Three years later, Ayo is building a team from scratch with the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers. This time around, there are no super seniors like Mark Cruz, Kevin Racal, Ben Mbala, or Jeron Teng.

For this team, Ayo wants them to find their own motivation and to bond as one as the season progresses.

“We’re a very young team with nine rookies at isa lang senior. Yung mga rookies are still adjusting,” disclosed Ayo.

Though there will still be holdovers from this season’s team and promotions from Team B in the following years, these young Tigers will serve as the team’s core. And Ayo wants them to experience the highest of highs and the lowest of lows together as one unit.

“Malaking bagay sila para sa program ng UST. They have to gain experience this season.”

In just the first two games of the UAAP Season 81 tournament, the Growling Tigers figured in two character-building games.